Living Lab - Region of Central Macedonia

We care for each other, we care for our space, we become part of mobility planning

In the buzzing framework of CERTH/HIT OPEN DAYS – and, more specifically, on November 25, 2019, a joint event of REFORM and e-smartec (the two Interreg Europe projects led by the Centre of Research and Technology Hellas/Hellenic Institute of Transport) took place.
Co-organized by the Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia (RDFCM) on behalf of the Region of Central Macedonia (RCM), the Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) and CERTH/HIT, the meeting hit off with a passionate address by Mr. P. Bilias.
Indeed, Mr. P. Bilias, the Regional Vice Governor for Infrastructure and Networks, welcomed representatives from the Municipalities of the Region of Central Macedonia and high-school students who are active in the ECOMOBILITY campaign and proactively discussed the desired mobility interventions to reach sustainability goals within the wider area of Thessaloniki.
Consequently, Dr. E. Bekiaris, CERTH/HIT Director, and Mr. K. Tertivanidis, Director of RDFCM, welcomed and thanked the participants as well, thus introducing the following two sections of the event.

REFORM brings the “Competence” at the “Center”

The first half of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation and the discussion of the Competence Centre for supporting SUMPs efficient development: the participants had the opportunity to be informed on the functionalities of the REFORM Competence Center.
Built on the basis of European and national SUMP guidelines, the Competence Center provides useful material for each stage of sustainable urban mobility planning cycle and aims to become an effective channel for dialogue and experiences’ exchange among Municipalities to overpass common problems with planning and incorporate lessons from previous experiences.

e-smartec puts participation in SUMPs, and we are ready for it

During the second half of the event, the 2nd e-smartec Living Lab took place. Developed from the valuable lessons learnt during REFORM project, e-smartec comes to find and adopt best practices on enhancing the participatory dimension of SUMPs, a subject in which Municipalities do not have large experience so far.
Success stories from the EU experience were presented, giving the floor to a fruitful discussion on RCM special needs on citizens and stakeholders’ active participation in mobility planning: a good start to a project that aims to the successful implementation and participation effect in SUMPs, all while using innovative marketing techniques.